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01-04-2015

Fetal Sex and Race Modify the Predictors of Fetal Growth

Authors: Simone A. Reynolds, James M. Roberts, Lisa M. Bodnar, Catherine L. Haggerty, Ada O. Youk, Janet M. Catov

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

The objective of this study is unknown if fetal sex and race modify the impact of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and smoking on fetal growth. The authors studied markers of fetal growth in singleton offspring of 8,801 primiparous, normotensive women, enrolled in the Collaborative Perinatal Project. The authors tested for departures from additivity between sex/race and each predictor. The head-to-chest circumference ratio (HCC) decreased more, while birthweight and ponderal index (PI) increased more for each 1 kg/m² increase in pre-pregnancy BMI among term females versus males (P = 0.07, P < 0.01 and P = 0.08, interaction respectively). For term offspring of White compared with Black women, smoking independent of “dose” was associated with larger reductions in growth (165 g vs. 68 g reduction in birthweight, P < 0.01, interaction), greater reduction in fetal placental ratio (P < 0.01, interaction), PI (P < 0.01, interaction), and greater increase in HCC (P = 0.02), respectively. The association of BMI and smoking with fetal size appeared to be reversed in term versus preterm infants. Our study provides evidence that the associations of pre-pregnancy BMI and smoking are not constant across sex and race. This finding may be relevant to sex and race differences in neonatal and long term health outcomes.

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Title: Fetal Sex and Race Modify the Predictors of Fetal Growth
Authors: Simone A. Reynolds
James M. Roberts
Lisa M. Bodnar
Catherine L. Haggerty
Ada O. Youk
Janet M. Catov
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1571-3

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Fetal Sex and Race Modify the Predictors of Fetal Growth

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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